ESPN News Services4:59 PM ET3 Minute Read
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Darrion Trammell converted a free throw after being fouled on a floater with 1.2 seconds left, and San Diego State worked its way into its first Final Four, earning a 57-56 win over Creighton Sunday in the South Region Finals of the NCAA Tournament.
Lamont Butler scored 18 points and Trammell had 12 for the fifth-seeded Aztecs (31-6), who slowed the high-ranked, sixth-seeded Bluejays (24-13) to become the first Mountain West Conference team to win the national semifinals.
The veteran Aztecs, in their sixth season under coach Brian Dutcher, will play surprise Eastern Region champions, ninth-seeded Florida Atlantic for a spot in national title contention in Houston on Saturday.
After the game was tied 56-4 on San Diego State’s last possession, Trammell drove to the free-throw line, lifted for the shot and was fouled by Creighton’s Ryan Nembhard. Trammell missed the first free throw but converted the second.
“I’ve dreamed of this my whole life, grateful to be here and grateful for everyone who believed in me,” said Trammell.
Creighton’s Baylor Scheierman threw the following inbounds the length of the floor. San Diego State’s Aguek Arop and Creighton’s Arthur Kaluma both lunged for it and the ball was deflected wide. Officials reviewed the piece and found that time had run out and celebration had begun for the Aztecs.
“I was given no explanation other than that the clock didn’t have time,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said. “They didn’t make a call on the ground but officiating is part of the game and we’re not going to go there.”
Scheierman leveled the game at 56-all when he stole an inbounds pass and converted a layup with 34 seconds remaining.
Ryan Kalkbrenner had 17 points and Scheierman and Kaluma had 12 each for the Bluejays, who went 2-of-17 from a 3-point range.
The Aztecs, who have come this far on defense and physical play, held the Bluejays on 23 points with 28% shooting in the second half as they won for the 14th time in 15 games. Creighton shot 40% overall.
San Diego State shot 38% but got clutch baskets from Nathan Mensah, whose vaulter gave the Aztecs a 1:37 lead with 56:54 to go, and Arop, who shot two in a row for a 54:50 advantage with 3: 03 before the end.
San Diego State opened at Caesars Sportsbook as a 1.5-point favorite over Florida Atlantic. The line went as far as San Diego state -2 on Sunday.
Creighton, who defeated San Diego State in overtime in the first round of last year’s NCAA tournament, just missed catching up with Big East rivals UConn in the Final Four.
The teams didn’t seem to share any negative feelings from last year’s meeting. They shared a round-trip flight to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational last fall, and there were no duels during a close, physical game in which neither team led by more than eight points.
Kaluma played against his brother Adam Seiko from San Diego State. Her parents sat a few rows up in the middle and sat in silence before joining Seiko to celebrate.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.